Kentucky executes first inmate in 9 years

[London Lass]

EDDYVILLE, Ky. (AP) - A Kentucky inmate who shunned all appeals to stop his execution was put to death Friday for murdering two young children.

In the state's first execution in nine years, Marco Allen Chapman was given a lethal injection at the Kentucky State Penitentiary in Eddyville. He was pronounced dead at 7:34 p.m. CST.

The 37-year-old pleaded guilty in 2004 to killing 7-year-old Chelbi Sharon and 6-year-old Cody Sharon in their northern Kentucky home in an attack that wounded their mother and another child. Chapman asked to be executed and fought for the right to fire his attorneys to clear the way.

Before he died, he looked at witnesses and said he was sorry. Looking into the witness room, he said he knew he committed a monstrous act, but he was not a monster, and he was willing to give his life.

On a field in the back of the prison, nearly a dozen death penalty opponents braved near-freezing temperatures for a candlelight vigil.

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[London Lass]

Chapman: "I'm Sorry To Everyone."

Marco Chapman spent his final hours at the Kentucky State Penitentiary watching television and writing letters.

Outside the prison, close to half a dozen protesters gathered with signs.

"I'm just here to show that I'm a Kentuckian that does not support the death penalty," said Amanda Bragg of Bowling Green

"There are some choices human beings don't have the right to make," said Sister Alice Gerdeman of Cincinnati.

Chapman was put on for the brutal murders of 7-year-old Chelbi and her 6-year-old brother Cody on Aug. 23, 2002.

They were attacked inside their Warsaw home.

Their mother, Carolyn Marksberry, was raped and stabbed multiple times and her 10-year-old daughter Courtney also survived being stabbed.

The 37-year-old Chapman has repeatedly said he wanted to pay for his crimes. He asked the courts to fire his attorneys and denied any appeals.

"The execution of Marco Allen Chapman was carried out in accordance with the sentencing courts of Kentucky and the laws of the Commonwealth at 7:34pm," said Lisa Lamb with the Kentucky Department of Corrections.

Nine media members and reportedly Carolyn Marksberry witnessed the execution by lethal injection.

Chapman was administered a three-drug lethal cocktail that took approximately 14 minutes for the entire process.

"Its like he fell asleep. I didn't notice anything strange about his body except soon after they started administering the drugs you could see him take some really deep breaths and then his breaths went shallow and then they stopped," said Bill Bartleman, a media witness.

Before the execution, the warden read a two-page statement written by Chapman.

"After they read his prepared statement he had more to say and raised up and looked at the witnesses and said he was terribly sorry and said he loved Carolyn and her daughter Courtney and begged her forgiveness," said Kelley Warnick with Gallatin County News.


"He continued to say I don't know why it happened and the thing that struck me shortly after that was this is the man, I am willing to give my life," said Carrie Weil, a media witness.

Chapman is the first inmate in Kentucky to plead guilty to the death penalty.

The Kentucky Department of Corrections says Chapman's body will be cremated at his request and the remains will be sent to designated family members.


Kentucky Post
http://www.kypost.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=a6b02bf7-b7c3-4ef5-8dc3-0ee2c67df489